Entering the 2023 season, one of the biggest criticism’s surrounding the Chicago Cubs was their lack of star power in the starting rotation. Yes, the depth 1-5 and in the minors was well above average, but there was no clear cut ace. Well, five weeks into the season, Justin Steele is more than earned the title of Cubs ace.

Steele entered Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins riding a 13-start streak of allowing two earned runs or fewer. Since 1914, only one Cubs pitcher had a longer streak and that was Jake Arrieta. As you will most likely remember, Arrieta was the best pitcher in the world in the second half of the 2015 season, when his streak began.

Well, the Cubs beat the Marlins 4-1 on Friday, and Steele led the way on the mound. The lefty threw seven innings and only allowed one earned run on six hits, walking none and striking out four. Steele has now matched Arrieta for the longest streak of giving up two earned runs or fewer in 14 consecutive starts, going back to 1914.

Steele improved to 5-0 this season and in seven starts the left-handed pitcher has recorded a 1.45 ERA.

By the way, I do have to point out how crazy amazing Jake Arrieta’s run was. Yeah, Steele has been awesome and he is starting to go deeper in games, but Arrieta was on a different planet back in 2015 and heading into 2016.

This was Jake Arrieta’s 14 straight starts of allowing two earned runs or fewer.

101.1 IP, 0.53 ERA, 0.65 WHIP

Yeah, that stretch from Arrieta was once in a lifetime.

Matt Mervis Debut

All the hype today was around first base prospect Matt Mervis. After another scorching month in Triple-A, Mervis was finally called up and inserted into the Cubs starting lineup. David Ross made it clear before the game that Mervis isn’t up to be in a platoon of any sort. The left-handed hitter is going to start regularly, while Eric Hosmer will essentially take the role of Edwin Ríos on the bench.

Mervis had a tough matchup against right-handed pitcher Edward Cabrera, who has been great against left-handed hitters.

The Cubs rookie struck out in his first at-bat, grounded out weakly in his second and then struck out in the sixth inning against left-handed reliever Steven Okert, who struck out the side. However, Mervis stepped up in the eighth against another left-handed pitcher in Tanner Scott after Trey Mancini was intentionally walked with two outs.

Mervis came through, delivering not only a big insurance run that gave the Cubs a 4-1 lead, but it came on one of the hardest hit balls all season from any Cubs player.

Oh yeah, Matt Mervis is my first baseman!

Miguel Amaya’s Bad Luck

Cubs rookie catcher Miguel Amaya made his MLB debut on Thursday against the Washington Nationals and he hit the ball hard all three times he went up to bat. That continued in Friday’s game, when he hit two more balls above 100mph off his bat.

Unfortunately, Amaya is still waiting for his first hit despite all five balls he’s put in play having an exit velocity over 100mph.

This might be a knee jerk reaction because it’s literally been two games, but it really does seem like Amaya belongs in the majors. He’s hitting the ball hard at the plate and he looks comfortable behind the dish, too.

We’ll see what the Cubs do once Yan Gomes returns from the concussion injured list, but man is Amaya making a great first impression here.